Jehovah's Witnesses..On John 1:1..translated in the NWT.."a god"..Does that mean that Jesus is "A God"?

Question

but not the Almight God? I don't understand..The Bible says their is One God..right? or am I wrong?

Answer 1

john 1:1 and the new world translation:
what do the greek scholars really say?



A. T. Robertson: "So in Jo. 1:1 theos en ho logos the meaning has to be the Logos was God, not God was the Logos." A New Short Grammar of the Greek Testament, by A. T. Robertson and W. Hersey Davis (Baker Book House, 1977), p. 279.

E. M. Sidebottom: "...the tendency to write 'the Word was divine' for theos en ho logos springs from a reticence to attribute the full Christian position to John." The Christ of the Fourth Gospel (S. P. C. K., 1961), p. 461.

E. C. Colwell: "...predicate nouns preceding the verb cannot be regarded as indefinite or qualitative simply because they lack the article; it could be regarded as indefinite or qualitative only if this is demanded by the context and in the case of John 1:1c this is not so." "A Definite Rule for the Use of the Article in the Greek New Testament," Journal of Biblical Literature, 52 (1933), p. 20.

C. K. Barrett: "The absence of the article indicates that the Word is God, but is not the only being of whom this is true; if ho theos had been written it would have implied that no divine being existed outside the second person of the Trinity." The Gospel According to St. John (S.P.C.K., 1955), p.76.

C. H. Dodd: "On this analogy, the meaning of theos en ho logos will be that the ousia of ho logos, that which it truly is, is rightly denominated theos...That this is the ousia of ho theos (the personal God of Abraham, the Father) goes without saying. In fact, the Nicene homoousios to patri is a perfect paraphrase. "New Testament Translation Problems II," The Bible Translator, 28, 1 (Jan. 1977), p. 104.

Randolph O. Yeager: "Only sophomores in Greek grammar are going to translate '...and the Word was a God.' The article with logos, shows that logos is the subject of the verb en and the fact that theos is without the article designates it as the predicate nominative. The emphatic position of theos demands that we translate '...and the Word was God.' John is not saying as Jehovah's Witnesses are fond of teaching that Jesus was only one of many Gods. He is saying precisely the opposite." The Renaissance New Testament, Vol. 4 (Renaissance Press, 1980), p.4.

James Moffatt: "'The Word was God...And the Word became flesh,' simply means "The word was divine...And the Word became human.' The Nicene faith, in the Chalcedon definition, was intended to conserve both of these truths against theories that failed to present Jesus as truly God and truly man..." Jesus Christ the Same (Abingdon-Cokesbury, 1945), p.61.

Philip B. Harner: "Perhaps the clause could be translated, 'the Word had the same nature as God." This would be one way of representing John's thought, which is, as I understand it, that ho logos, no less than ho theos, had the nature of theos." "Qualitative Anarthrous Predicate Nouns: Mark 15:39 and John 1:1," Journal of Biblical Literature, 92, 1 (March 1973, p. 87.

Henry Alford: "Theos must then be taken as implying God, in substance and essence,--not ho theos, 'the Father,' in person. It does not = theios, nor is it to be rendered a God--but, as in sarx egeneto, sarx expresses that state into which the Divine Word entered by a definite act, so in theos en, theos expresses that essence which was His en arche:--that He was very God. So that this first verse might be connected thus: the Logos was from eternity,--was with God (the Father),--and was Himself God." Alford's Greek Testament: An Exegetical and Critical Commentary, Vol. I, Part II (Guardian Press, 1975; originally published 1871), p. 681.

Donald Guthrie: "The absence of the article with Theos has misled some into thinking that the correct understanding of the statement would be that 'the word was a God' (or divine), but this is grammatically indefensible since Theos is a predicate." New Testament Theology (InterVarsity Press, 1981), p. 327.

Bruce Metzger: "It must be stated quite frankly that, if the Jehovah's Witnesses take this translation seriously, they are polytheists... As a matter of solid fact, however, such a rendering is a frightful mistranslation." "The Jehovah's Witnesses and Jesus Christ," Theology Today (April 1953), p. 75.

Julius R. Mantey: "Since Colwell's and Harner's article in JBL, especially that of Harner, it is neither scholarly nor reasonable to translate John 1:1 "The Word was a god." Word-order has made obsolete and incorrect such a rendering... In view of the preceding facts, especially because you have been quoting me out of context, I herewith request you not to quote the Manual Grammar of the Greek New Testament again, which you have been doing for 24 years." Letter from Mantey to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. "A Grossly Misleading Translation... John 1:1, which reads 'In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.' is shockingly mistranslated, "Originally the Word was, and the Word was with God, and the Word was a god,' in a New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures, published under the auspices of Jehovah's Witnesses." Statement by J. R. Mantey, published in various sources.

B. F. Westcott: "The predicate (God) stands emphatically first, as in v.24. It is necessarily without the article (theos not ho theos) inasmuch as it describes the nature of the Word and does not identify His Person... No idea of inferiority of nature is suggested by the form of expression, which simply affirms the true deity of the Word." The Gospel According to St. John (Eerdmans, 1958 reprint), p. 3.

Who are these scholars? Many of them are world-renowned Greek scholars whose works the Jehovah's Witnesses themselves have quoted in their publications, notably Robertson, Harner, and Mantey, in defense of their "a god" translation of John 1:1! Westcott is the Greek scholar who with Hort edited the Greek text of the New Testament used by the Jehovah's Witnesses. Yeager is a professor of Greek and the star pupil of Julius Mantey. Metzger is the world's leading scholar on the textual criticism of the Greek New Testament. It is scholars of this caliber who insist that the words of John 1:1 cannot be taken to mean anything less than that the Word is the one true Almighty God.

Answer 2

Correct.

Jesus was with the Almighty so he is not the Almighty himself.

John 1:1 "and the Word was with God"

All heavenly creatures are higher then man (men made lower then angels - Ps. 8:5-8) so they are ALL are Deity's. But the scripture is clear that there is one Almighty and that is Jesus father.

1Cr 8:5 "For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
But to us [there is but] one God, the Father"

Answer 3

Deut 10:17 calls “Jehovah YOUR God is the God of gods”

Why do you think Jehovah is called “God of gods” acc to Deut 10:17? If the “gods” are false gods, then are you saying that Jehovah is the God of “false” gods? Are “false gods” part of the world? What does the Bible says about friendship with the world? Who is the ruler of this present world? Jehovah is NOT Satan because Satan is the god of the wicked system of things (including the false gods/idols). Jehovah won’t be called “God of gods” if these other gods do not exist. Just like when the Bible says “King of kings” these other kings exist.


Acts 13:33 states the Father “has MADE/BRING FORTH (Greek Gennoa)” the Son. SO Jesus was MADE by the Father. Acts 2:36 states “God MADE him both Lord and Christ”.


Notice, too, how other translations render John 1:1

1808: “and the word was a god.” The New Testament in an Improved Version, Upon the Basis of Archbishop Newcome’s New Translation: With a Corrected Text.
1864: “and a god was the word.” The Emphatic Diaglott, interlinear reading, by Benjamin Wilson.
1928: “and the Word was a divine being.” La Bible du Centenaire, L’Evangile selon Jean, by Maurice Goguel.
1935: “and the Word was divine.” The Bible—An American Translation, by J. M. P. Smith and E. J. Goodspeed.
1946: “and of a divine kind was the Word.” Das Neue Testament, by Ludwig Thimme.
1950: “and the Word was a god.” New World Translation of the Christian Greek Scriptures.
1975: “and a god (or, of a divine kind) was the Word.” Das Evangelium nach Johannes, by Siegfried Schulz.
1978: “and godlike kind was the Logos.” Das Evangelium nach Johannes, by Johannes Schneider.


So Jesus is a divine being (god). His God is the person he is WITH, GOD. But also notice, that Jesus was a god, who became Mighty God (Isa 9:6). So Jesus being god or God, has a beginning. Please notice the FUTURE tense used in Isa 9:6 (WILL/SHALL). Jehovah’s Godship has no beginning. Psalms.

The Bible helps us to identify who God is. In John 17:3 , Jesus himself said that his Father is the ONLY true God. If God is composed of multiple persons, then it shouldn’t use ONLY. Also, The Bible uses the terms “He”, “Him” , “I” , “I am” to refer to God., Notice that those words ARE NOT USED in ANY CASE for MULTIPLE PERSONS but for ONE PERSON ONLY.

That’s why Jesus, both when he is in heaven and earth, calls his Father, “MY GOD”.

That’s why in 1 Cor 8:6 it states “6 there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are”., Please notice, only one God, The Father.

dictionary.com defines the word "God" as

one Supreme Being, the creator and ruler of the universe

SO when Jesus said "MY God" he is basically saying "My Supreme being and Creator and ruler of the universe".

Here's something to think about too. Trinitarians say they only believe in one God. John 1:1 also conflicts the Trinitarians teaching.

If The Word is The God, and The Word is WITH the God,
Then The God (Word) is WITH another God(Father).

THere's only two there. and it will make God Two using that logic.

A Man WITH another Man , makes them TWO Men.

A God WITH another God, makes them TWO Gods.

Notice John 1:1 didn't say "the first person of God is WITH another person of God".

Answer 4

Yes it does mean that he is A GOD The MORMONS believe that Jesus is Jehovah, but let them look at Ex 7:1 in the KJ bible, see it shows Moses to be a God,

You have to understand what "GOD'' means,

*** it-1 p. 968 God ***

GOD

Anything that is worshiped can be termed a god, inasmuch as the worshiper attributes to it might greater than his own and venerates it. A person can even let his belly be a god. (Ro 16:18; Php 3:18, 19) The Bible makes mention of many gods (Ps 86:8; 1Co 8:5, 6), but it shows that the gods of the nations are valueless gods.—Ps 96:5; see GODS AND GODDESSES.

Hebrew Terms. Among the Hebrew words that are translated “God” is ’El, probably meaning “Mighty One; Strong One.” (Ge 14:18) It is used with reference to Jehovah, to other gods, and to men. It is also used extensively in the makeup of proper names, such as Elisha (meaning “God Is Salvation”) and Michael (“Who Is Like God?”). In some places ’El appears with the definite article (ha‧’El′, literally, “the God”) with reference to Jehovah, thereby distinguishing him from other gods.—Ge 46:3; 2Sa 22:31; see NW appendix, p. 1567.

At Isaiah 9:6 Jesus Christ is prophetically called ’El Gib‧bohr′, “Mighty God” (not ’El Shad‧dai′ [God Almighty], which is applied to Jehovah at Genesis 17:1).

as it says in Isa 9:6 that he is a MIGHTY GOD and Eternal Father,

here's what that means, by means of his sacrifice, I have the chance to have everlasting life, so that makes him my eternal father Jehovah is also, but like a grand father remember how Jesus was "SON OF DAVID" that meant a decendant. I'm a decendant of Adam,

Please also do yourself a favor & look up these sites

www.answerbag.com/q_view/38458
site of Dr Beduhn NWT

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tetragrammaton
secular site for info on the Tetragrammerton

http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08329a.htm
(catholic encyclopedia)

http://blog.360.yahoo.com/blog-VIY_Zv03crUGoASHW362nw--?p=2&n=28500 (pope’s cousin)

Answer 5

1 Corinthians 8:5, 6 says - "For even though there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth, just as there are many “gods” and many “lords,”  there is actually to us one God the Father, out of whom all things are, and we for him; and there is one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things are, and we through him."
The above scripture separates Jesus from God. This scripture is clearly talking about two beings. And you will also note that it says there are many Gods.

And no, although the Bible calls Jesus a mighty God, he is not "almighty God". Jehovah is the only almighty God. Ps. 83:18 - "That people may know that you, whose name is Jehovah, You alone are the Most High over all the earth."

Jehovah's name will be sanctified, or held holy. People say the lord's prayer and they don't even know they are praying for Jehovah's name to be known.
Jehovah wants his name known to all people of the earth. Ezekiel 36:23 says - " ‘And I shall certainly sanctify my great name, which was being profaned among the nations, which YOU profaned in the midst of them; and the nations will have to know that I am Jehovah,’ is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, ‘when I am sanctified among YOU before their eyes."

Answer 6

Jesus himself said there was only "one true God." This was in John 17:3, and the context makes it clear that this true God was not he himself. He said "...YOU the only true God AND Jesus Christ...."

Paul said there are many who are gods and lords in 1 Corinthians 8:5, 6, but to Christians there is only one God and one Lord.

That Jesus himself is not the one true God is made clear by the simple fact that Jesus HAS a God, as we read in Revelation 3:12, KJV:

"Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name."

Did you see that? FOUR times Jesus referred to "my God."

Jehovah God is the Father of Jesus Christ.

Jehovah God is the Almighty, the Most High. - Exodus 6:3; Psalm 83:18. (KJV)

Jesus is the "the SON of the Highest." - Luke 1:32, KJV

Answer 7

Yes, Jesus is a god (or even "A God").
No, the bible does not say that the term "god" only refers to Almighty Jehovah.

The bible plainly mentions other "gods", although NOT of course as peers of Almighty Jehovah.
...(1 Corinthians 8:5) there are those who are called “gods,” whether in heaven or on earth

Jesus as "a god": (John 1:1; Isaiah 9:6; John 1:18)
Angels as 'gods': (Psalm 82:1)
Satan as a 'god': (2 Corinthians 4:4)
Human judges as "gods": (Psalm 82:6-8)

Jehovah is "the one true God" in the sense that He has no rival.
...(Psalm 86:8,10) There is none like you among the gods, O Jehovah... You are God, you alone.
...(Exodus 22:20) One who sacrifices to any gods but Jehovah alone is to be devoted to destruction.


Jehovah's Witnesses reserve the English word "worship" uniquely in connection with Jehovah God. The bible speaks of honoring Christ Jesus and doing obeisance to him, but only Jehovah the Father merits worshipful "exclusive devotion".

(Exodus 20:2,5) I am Jehovah your God... I Jehovah your God am a God exacting exclusive devotion

(Philippians 2:5,6) Christ Jesus, who, although he was existing in God’s form, gave no consideration to a seizure, namely, that he should be equal to God

Learn more!
http://watchtower.ca/e/ti/index.htm?article=article_05.htm
http://watchtower.ca/e/20050422/
http://watchtower.ca/e/20020515/
http://watchtower.ca/e/rq/index.htm?article=article_03.htm
http://watchtower.ca/e/lmn/index.htm?article=article_04.htm

Answer 8

If you read further you will find the whole passage written like that. Jesus is "a" god is how they get to believe that Jesus is not the Almighty God. The passage attempts to portray Jesus as a created angel not God himself. Further reading will say all "other" things were created by Him and for Him. Changing these verses is how JW's make their belief that Jesus is just an angel and a prophet believable to them. They also believe that in heaven Jesus is Michael. So there is a lot of misunderstanding about what they believe. It makes it a lot easier for them to believe that Jesus is not God. Read further and you'll see how the whole passage was changed. They will have ( ) around words that were not in the original text but put it in to clarify what was meant. What was written is what was meant. Jesus is God and all things were created by Him. Simple.

Answer 9

Careful! There are a lot of people who will attempt to lead you astray.
JW's have it correct. Many years of research have proven them accurate. Opinions of men with misleading websites (by men) can really run you away from the subject with too much misinformation.
The fact is that the original translation didn't have "the word a" as a translation.
The key here is instead of being mislead by opinions, the truth, and service to God, and the love of our savior Jesus, is the most important.........Don't be drawn away by the attempts of Satan's servants to kill you. They will drive you away from true worship if you let them........
Fallow the truth. Worship Jehovah, and Love his son Jesus, as we do.

A loyal follower of Jehovah

Answer 10

You are right. Jesus is a God like unto His Father, the Eternal God. Jesus was the first born of the Father in the Spirit and the only begotten of the Father in the flesh. He was made God of this world that anything that is done here is done by Him and that this should be His when the mortal history of earth is complete. Jesus is Jehovah of the Old Testament and speaks for God the Father as if He were the Eternal Father. Jesus is both the Father and the Son in that He is the father of His Gospel to all of mankind and we become His children in our obedience to His Gospel and our acceptance of His atonement for us. When we are baptized and receive the Holy Ghost, we are born anew and become the spiritual offspring of Jesus through His atonement.
Yes, God the Father will always be above Jesus, but Jesus will always be above us because of His elect position as our Savior and as the God of this world. Thus, we do all that we do in the name Jesus and He becomes our intermediary with the Father.